衡阳市大羽藓植物及其基质重金属元素含量分析

通过分析衡阳市7个样点的大羽藓植物体及相应土壤样品中的Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd、Hg、As等6种重金属元素含量,大羽藓植物体内6种重金属元素平均含量分别为:40.86 mg/kg、339.27 mg/kg、19.54 mg/kg、0.32 mg/kg、0.27 mg/kg、4.77 mg/kg,基质中重金属元素平均含量分别为:48.32 mg/kg、160.40 mg/kg、22.35 mg/kg、0.21 mg/kg、0.38 mg/kg、11.62 mg/kg,均未超过国家标准2级标准.富集系数分析表明,大羽藓对Zn和Cd具有富集能力,富集系数分别为:2.12和1.52.植物体和土壤基质中重金属含量的相关性分析表明,除Pb外其它5种重金属都达到显著性差异水平(P0.05).     

大灰藓植物监测衡阳市大气重金属生态危害研究

为评价衡阳市大气中6种重金属的潜在生态危害程度,通过对大灰藓植物体和土壤中的重金属含量分析,可知,15个样点当中植物体内Zn含量为149.427 mg/kg～381.552 mg/kg,Pb含量为68.842 mg/kg～124.738 mg/kg,Cr含量16.303 mg/kg～38.717 mg/kg,Cu含量为15.462 mg/kg～37.467 mg/kg,Cd含量为0.975 mg/kg～2.495 mg/kg,Hg含量范围在0.192 mg/kg～0.443 mg/kg.土壤中Zn含量为85.683 mg/kg～245.165 mg/kg,Pb含量范围为38.030 mg/kg～71.938 mg/kg,Cr含量为28.987 mg/kg～64.442 mg/kg,Cu含量为18.448 mg/kg～42.983 mg/kg,Cd含量为0.212 mg/kg～0.553 mg/kg,Hg含量为0.268 mg/kg～0.640 mg/kg.相关性分析表明大灰藓植物体和土壤重金属之间Pearson相关性系数都未达到显著性差异.6种重金属的环境风险指数都为轻微生态危害,衡阳市大气重金属的潜在生态危害程度为中等生态危害.     

四川凉山州9种野生蘑菇的重金属含量

报道了采集于四川凉山州9种野生蘑菇及相关土壤的重金属Cd、Pb、Zn、Hg和As的含量.结果表明,供试土壤均未检出Hg,3个采集地除会理林家山土壤样品有Cd的检出,另外两个样地土壤未检出Cd.土壤中Pb、Zn和As在干土中的含量分别为52.806 4~274.731 0 mg/kg、18.747 5~164.585 8 mg/kg和3.970 9~10.749 9 mg/kg.野生蘑菇对Cd和Hg具有很强的积累能力,在土壤中没有Cd和Hg检出的情况下,蘑菇中均测出了Cd和Hg,Cd含量高达28.383 6 mg/kg出现在梭孢环柄菇(Lepita ventriosospora),Hg含量最高为0.860 7 mg/kg出现在大白菇(Russula deli-ca).在土壤受Pb污染的情况下,大白菇子实体积累Pb的能力最强,含量为115.929 0 mg/kg.本次蘑菇样品Zn的含量不高.蘑菇对As的积累与土壤中As含量高低有关,最高含量为喇叭陀螺菌(Gomphus floccosus),为4.003 5 mg/kg.表明蘑菇对重金属的积累具有种特异性,与环境土壤重金属含量有关.基于蘑菇对重金属的强积累能力,可考虑作为净化重金属污染环境的特种生物.图1表2参11     

新乡市公园土壤重金属污染

通过对新乡市区6个有代表性公园土壤重金属含量的调查,结果发现市区公园表层土壤Pb、Cr、Cd和Zn的平均含量分别为63.22 mg/kg、91.35 mg/kg、0.57 mg/kg、115.63 mg/kg。以河南省土壤背景值为标准,用内梅罗指数法综合评价,结果表明:6个公园土壤中重金属Cr、Zn为轻度污染;Pb为中度污染;Cd为重度污染。所有公园土壤都存在Pb、Cd和Zn污染。     

上海城市公园灰尘重金属污染及其潜在生态风险评价

通过对上海城市公园灰尘重金属含量的调查,发现上海城市公园灰尘重金属Pb、Zn、Cu、Cr、Cd和Ni含量的平均值分别为416.63 mg/kg、906.29 mg/kg2、35.89 mg/kg1、62.59 mg/kg1、.58 mg/kg和92.19 mg/kg,同上海市土壤环境背景值相比,均处于较高的积累水平。公园灰尘重金属空间上的分布特征表现为:内外环线之间公园灰尘各重金属元素含量平均值均高于内环线内公园;通过分析判定公园灰尘中较高的重金属含量可能主要源于交通和工业造成的污染。运用潜在生态危害指数法来评价上海城市公园灰尘重金属污染状况,发现单种重金属造成的潜在生态危害表现为:Cd>Pb>Cu>Ni>Zn>Cr;公园灰尘6种重金属潜在生态危害达到一个相当高的水平,在所调查的公园中,63.6%的公园灰尘重金属生态危害达到极高水平,29.5%的公园达到高水平,6.8%的公园处于较高水平。     

禹州市煤矿区周边土壤和农作物重金属污染状况及健康风险评价

为全面了解河南省禹州市煤矿周边土壤和农作物中的重金属污染现状.对禹州市的某3个典型矿区(下文称为A、B和C矿区)周围土壤和主要谷类农作物(玉米和小麦)进行了调研和采样分析,并采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)测定其重金属含量,同时通过单因子指数法和内梅罗综合指数法评价了煤矿周围土壤的污染状况,并利用MMSOILS风险评价模型评价了食用当地谷类农作物对成人和儿童造成的重金属健康风险.结果表明:研究区土壤受到了重金属不同程度的污染,污染程度排序:小麦地玉米地,且就单个重金属污染程度来说, Cd Cu Co Ni Zn Cr;内梅罗综合污染指数分析结果表明,玉米地的污染程度为安全,小麦地的污染程度为重污染,均以Cd对污染指数P_(综合)值的贡献最大;研究区农作物玉米籽粒中Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn和Cd的平均含量分别为25.03、0.54、2.87、21.52、118.68、1.97 mg·kg~(-1);小麦籽粒中Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn和Cd的平均含量分别为1.04、0.11、1.17、9.55、61.51、0.06 mg·kg~(-1).Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn和Cd富集系数大小的顺序均为玉米小麦;健康风险评价表明,研究区农作物籽粒中存在高重金属污染风险,尤其以Cd最为明显,食用当地谷类农作物对人体造成健康风险的顺序依次为Co Cd Cu Zn Ni Cr,其中Co、Cd对成人风险较高,Co、Cu、Zn、Cd对儿童风险较高,对儿童造成的健康风险要明显高于成人;土壤重金属含量与谷类农作物可食部分重金属含量间无明显相关性.     

大型垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤重金属含量水平、空间分布、来源及潜在生态风险评价

通过采集珠三角东部某市大型垃圾焚烧厂周边表层土壤样品,分析了各样品中Cd、Pb、Hg、As、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Co等9种重金属含量,研究了重金属的含量水平、空间分布、来源及潜在生态风险。结果表明,研究范围内表层土壤重金属含量分别为Cd(0.183±0.07)mg·kg-1、Pb(34.8±18.7)mg·kg-1、Hg(0.081±0.028)mg·kg-1、As(11.5±9.1)mg·kg-1、Cr(31.5±19.1)mg·kg-1、Cu(17.6±12.3)mg·kg-1、Ni(7.13±4.20)mg·kg-1、Zn(82.4±44.2)mg·kg-1、Co(3.37±3.08)mg·kg-1。其中,Hg和Zn的含量分别超出广东省土壤历史背景值1倍和2倍,其余重金属含量与背景值相差不大。综合空间分布特征分析、相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析的结果,可以将9种重金属分为4类。Cr、Ni、Cu、Co的分布特征极为相似,且相互之间有极显著相关性,结合聚类分析和主成分分析结果,其来源主要为土壤母质。As、Zn、Pb的空间分布特征具有一定相似性,但相关性分析和聚类分析显示元素间联系不紧密,结合主成分分析结果,其来源与土壤母质和多种人类活动污染有关。Cd和Hg的空间分布特征均显示这两种重金属与垃圾焚烧厂存在联系,Cd与垃圾焚烧厂存在一定联系,而Hg与垃圾焚烧厂存在较强联系。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,该研究区域土壤重金属生态风险不高,多种重金属的综合潜在生态风险指数(RI)的范围为51~269.79,Hg和Cd对RI的贡献率相对较大,分别为52.33%和18.30%。研究表明,垃圾焚烧厂周边表层土壤Hg具有独特的环境污染特征,在垃圾焚烧厂周边的土壤重金属污染调查中,Hg污染应受到重点关注。     

华中冶金工业走廊表层土壤、道路尘重金属污染特征及健康风险

于2015年1月,分别采集了316国道黄石-鄂州段表层土壤和道路尘样品各23个,采用火焰原子吸收分光光度法定量分析其重金属含量,以探讨重金属的污染特征及其健康风险.结果表明,Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Co、Cr、Ni、Mn的平均含量分别为97. 51、31. 18、115. 57、0. 58、21. 20、30. 10、37. 34、573. 74 mg·kg-1(表层土壤);730.12、236.23、392.74、6.20、223.72、90.54、148.42、4698.46 mg·kg-1(道路尘),且变异系数较大,污染分布不均匀.道路尘中重金属含量明显高于表层土壤,黄石段道路尘中重金属(除Cr、Ni、Mn外)明显高于鄂州段.地累积指数表明:表层土壤中Co及道路尘中Cd、Co、Mn污染最严重.由健康风险评价可知,表层土壤和道路尘中8种重金属非致癌风险为儿童成人,其中手-口摄入为重金属暴露的主要途径,表层土壤中各种重金属暴露风险不大,而道路尘中Cr和Mn存在非致癌风险;表层土壤中Cd、Co、Ni、Cr均不存在致癌风险,道路尘的致癌风险主要来源于Cr.     

土壤重金属的形态分布特征及其影响因素

土壤重金属元素在介质中的存在形态是衡量其环境效应的关键参数.选择长江三角洲地区的江苏省昆山市为研究区,采集了126个土壤表层样品,通过欧共体标准司提出的BCR 3步提取法对土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Co、Ni、Pb和Zn等7种重金属元素的形态分布特征进行了分析,并采用逐步回归法探讨了影响重金属化学形态的影响因素.研究结果表明,Cd主要以可还原态存在,Pb主要以有机结合态存在,而Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Co 5种元素主要以残渣态存在,不同重金属元素的次生相态所占总量百分比由大到小的顺序为Cd、Pb、Co、Cu、zn、Ni、Cr.重金属总量是影响重金属形态含量的最主要因素,其次为有机质和pH值,FeOx含量是影响残渣态含量的主要因素,粘粒含量是影响Zn各形态的主要因素,MnOx含量是影响Pb各形态的主要因素.     

京北城区公路绿化带土壤重金属污染

为了解北京市公路绿化带土壤的环境质量,对北部城区环线公路附近不同植被类型土壤重金属的含量和污染指数进行了分析。研究表明:土壤Zn和Pb在不同公路绿化带中的分布极不均匀,变异系数分别达到了108.79%和99.56%。北二环路公路带土壤Pb、Cu、Zn、Ni、Mn、Co的含量均显著高于北五环区域土壤的重金属含量,而北四环和北五环各土壤重金属含量无显著差异。不同土壤重金属种类的污染程度不同,土壤中的Pb处于清洁水平,Cr和Cu处于轻度污染水平,Zn和Co处于中度污染水平,而Ni和Mn处于警戒限水平。综合来看,土壤重金属的综合污染指数为1.81,土壤环境质量达到了轻度污染的程度。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.